Crazy Town frontman Shifty Shellshock dies at the age of 49

Crazy Town frontman Shifty Shellshock has died at the age of 49. The musician, whose real name was Seth Binzer, was found in his home on Monday, ABC7 reported, citing the Los Angeles County Coroner. No further details about the circumstances of his death were released.

Binzer founded Crazy Town in 1999 together with Bret Mazur after making music together for several years under different names. The rap-rock group was relatively quickly successful and released their debut album The gift of the gamein November 1999 and landed their first number one hit in March 2001 with “Butterfly”, which contains a sample of the band’s former tour mates, the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“The Peppers are a great inspiration for us,” said Binzer Rolling Stone in 2001, detailing the support of Anthony Kiedis when he turned to drugs during a particularly tough breakup. “Anthony found me and took me to lunch – where I tried to borrow money from him so I could get high. I didn’t stop my killing spree for a few days, but he showed me that there were people who cared and cared about me. Anthony is this angel who came into my life.”

Crazy Town briefly disbanded in 2003 after releasing their second album. Dark Horseand Binzer released his first solo album, Happy Love Sickin 2004. The record included “Starry Eyed Surprise,” his collaboration with British producer and musician Paul Oakenfold. He also had a brief stint as an actor in the 1990s, after being cast on the street in a Levi’s commercial.

Shellshock spoke openly about his struggle with addiction and appeared in two seasons of the VH1 show Rehab for celebrities and two seasons of the follow-up series Sober Housein which he spoke soberly about his journey.

Binzer leaves behind three children: Halo, Gage and Phoenix.